The Agile Attorney Podcast 104. Quality Standards for Law Firms: How to Make Expectations Explicit and Work Predictable [Agile Lawyering Part 4]
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Jan 27, 2026 They tackle uncertainty in legal work by making quality expectations explicit. They explain fit-for-purpose standards, definitions of done and ready, and simple checklists to prevent rework. They cover delegation pitfalls like boomerang and shotgun delegation, urgency camouflage, and using templates and SIPOC to stabilize workflows. Practical tips focus on starting small and co-creating standards with the team.
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Target Fit-For-Purpose Quality
- Aim for fit-for-purpose quality, not maximal quality.
- Deliver work that's 'just right' to avoid waste from overbuilding.
Shotgun Delegation Example
- John described 'shotgun delegation' where senior lawyers send requests to multiple channels.
- That behavior increases noise and makes correct processing less likely.
Three Patterns Of Failure Demand
- Boomerang delegation, shotgun delegation, and urgency camouflage are all failure demand.
- They arise when people don't trust the system to deliver consistently and predictably.
